Cricinfo turns its focus to the smaller nations and Associates

Afghanistan ready for Intercontinental Cup challenge

Afghanistan allrounder, Raees Ahmadzai, has said his team's batsmen are looking forward to their debut in the Intercontinental Cup, against Zimbabwe A, starting in Mutare today. The team recently had a 10-day training camp in Kabul, which included a three-day game and two two-day games as part of their preparations for their foray into multi-day cricket at the ICC level.

"Some of the players made hundreds, so we will hopefully do some good in Zimbabwe in the four-day match," Ahmadzai told Cricinfo. He said the team had been busy playing club cricket in Afghanistan and "everyone is in good form."

Afghanistan qualified for the Intercontinental Cup, the ICC's multi-day format competition for its Associate and Affiliate members after finishing fifth in the World Cup Qualifiers in South Africa in April.

Afghanistan performance was very impressive. Had the 10 match ban not been imposed on Taibu, he would have been a part of the main line-up and in that case Afghans might have even beaten the Zimbabwe-A side.
If Zim-A team doesn't perform exceptionally well against the associate nations, ICC should ask frontline Zimbabwe side to participate in this tournament.

Simon Butler
on August 19, 2009, 2:47 GMT

It is good to see Afghanistan performing well. They have benn one of the cricketing worlds shining lights for the last 18 months now as their young inexperienced team has slowly blossomed into a formidable side. A 'Team' in every sense of the word.
In offering that compliment to the Afghan side it is hard to guade wether their good show against Zimbabwe is a testament of Afghanistans improvement, or proof of just how far ZC has declined in the years since they lost test status. I agree with the critics of Zimbabwe fielding an 'A' team in the IC cup. If zimbabwe get anything less than an IC cup win in the current tornament it will look very bad, and it will hurt their credibility.

Nasimullah Danish
on August 16, 2009, 17:49 GMT

Hi All,
hope our team will bring a sccess to our homeland,
i have one request from the cricinfo that please i am reciving 100 calls every day from my friends and others cricket lovers for the updating score of our team match vs Zim. please if possible try to keep our hearts, and make a live score card for Afghan team matches.
Regards.
Nasim Danish

Ammaduddin
on August 16, 2009, 16:37 GMT

Afghanistan is best any sport's

Nasir Ahmad Khogiani
on August 16, 2009, 16:13 GMT

My pleasure to write for my team again we must tell the world that Afghanistan has low internet facility over the country while all those cricketers and students who knew about AFG & ZIM match are progressively check cricket sites on mobile I am the light example writing this comment from my cell but ICC dose not care for our patiency and they are doing some non-scenses from the same Intercontinental cup they broadcast kenya vs canada but neither Afg vs Zim Inshallah Afghanistan will do good because they are well managed team and telanted players Go ahead to achive your goals with sport and go from the fire to the air and wave on the world wispear in each ear the voice of afghan

Leslie Knott
on August 16, 2009, 16:07 GMT

I am so frustrated as I want to know the score. I just spoke with the head of the Afghan Cricket Board, and he hasn't been able to get an update either. It should be posted in the next hour or so...

Attak
on August 16, 2009, 13:37 GMT

why there is no live score of Afghanistan and Zimbabwe cricket game. I checked the whol site but no thing about that. I hope Afghanistan is going!!

Dad Khan Ahmadzai
on August 16, 2009, 12:10 GMT

its good to see Afghanistan facing a strong Zimbabwe team, this would prove a productive experince for the team.

But Unfurtunitely no websites take this match with the attention.

i kindly request the Cricinfo website to updates the useres on the lates condition of the match which is still unclear to us, most of the Afghanistan people accessing this website to hear about their team.

Kindly put this issue under your consideration

Thanks,

Qaseem hilal khogiani
on August 16, 2009, 11:19 GMT

A think nawrowz mangal,raees ahmadzai,moh shehzad and azghar stanikzai batting well and a best spinner nabi taking many wickets in this trophy.
Thanks from all.

Siddiq
on August 16, 2009, 11:09 GMT

Yes definitely, Afghanistan is ready for the High level international cricket.
As we have seen the unexpected during the world cup qualifiers, they have some amazing talent, in the balling and batting fields.
As Mr Ahmadzai has mentioned, they have been busy preparing for this match. It would be very interesting what happens when they beat a prominent team like Zimbabwe.
What is lacking in Afghanistan is the proper support of these players, they don't have financial funds nor there is a world class ground in the country. ICC needs to help Afghanistan, if they don't the raw talent will be wasted.

Vikram Maingi
on August 26, 2009, 8:25 GMT

Afghanistan performance was very impressive. Had the 10 match ban not been imposed on Taibu, he would have been a part of the main line-up and in that case Afghans might have even beaten the Zimbabwe-A side.
If Zim-A team doesn't perform exceptionally well against the associate nations, ICC should ask frontline Zimbabwe side to participate in this tournament.

Simon Butler
on August 19, 2009, 2:47 GMT

It is good to see Afghanistan performing well. They have benn one of the cricketing worlds shining lights for the last 18 months now as their young inexperienced team has slowly blossomed into a formidable side. A 'Team' in every sense of the word.
In offering that compliment to the Afghan side it is hard to guade wether their good show against Zimbabwe is a testament of Afghanistans improvement, or proof of just how far ZC has declined in the years since they lost test status. I agree with the critics of Zimbabwe fielding an 'A' team in the IC cup. If zimbabwe get anything less than an IC cup win in the current tornament it will look very bad, and it will hurt their credibility.

Nasimullah Danish
on August 16, 2009, 17:49 GMT

Hi All,
hope our team will bring a sccess to our homeland,
i have one request from the cricinfo that please i am reciving 100 calls every day from my friends and others cricket lovers for the updating score of our team match vs Zim. please if possible try to keep our hearts, and make a live score card for Afghan team matches.
Regards.
Nasim Danish

Ammaduddin
on August 16, 2009, 16:37 GMT

Afghanistan is best any sport's

Nasir Ahmad Khogiani
on August 16, 2009, 16:13 GMT

My pleasure to write for my team again we must tell the world that Afghanistan has low internet facility over the country while all those cricketers and students who knew about AFG & ZIM match are progressively check cricket sites on mobile I am the light example writing this comment from my cell but ICC dose not care for our patiency and they are doing some non-scenses from the same Intercontinental cup they broadcast kenya vs canada but neither Afg vs Zim Inshallah Afghanistan will do good because they are well managed team and telanted players Go ahead to achive your goals with sport and go from the fire to the air and wave on the world wispear in each ear the voice of afghan

Leslie Knott
on August 16, 2009, 16:07 GMT

I am so frustrated as I want to know the score. I just spoke with the head of the Afghan Cricket Board, and he hasn't been able to get an update either. It should be posted in the next hour or so...

Attak
on August 16, 2009, 13:37 GMT

why there is no live score of Afghanistan and Zimbabwe cricket game. I checked the whol site but no thing about that. I hope Afghanistan is going!!

Dad Khan Ahmadzai
on August 16, 2009, 12:10 GMT

its good to see Afghanistan facing a strong Zimbabwe team, this would prove a productive experince for the team.

But Unfurtunitely no websites take this match with the attention.

i kindly request the Cricinfo website to updates the useres on the lates condition of the match which is still unclear to us, most of the Afghanistan people accessing this website to hear about their team.

Kindly put this issue under your consideration

Thanks,

Qaseem hilal khogiani
on August 16, 2009, 11:19 GMT

A think nawrowz mangal,raees ahmadzai,moh shehzad and azghar stanikzai batting well and a best spinner nabi taking many wickets in this trophy.
Thanks from all.

Siddiq
on August 16, 2009, 11:09 GMT

Yes definitely, Afghanistan is ready for the High level international cricket.
As we have seen the unexpected during the world cup qualifiers, they have some amazing talent, in the balling and batting fields.
As Mr Ahmadzai has mentioned, they have been busy preparing for this match. It would be very interesting what happens when they beat a prominent team like Zimbabwe.
What is lacking in Afghanistan is the proper support of these players, they don't have financial funds nor there is a world class ground in the country. ICC needs to help Afghanistan, if they don't the raw talent will be wasted.

No featured comments at the moment.

Siddiq
on August 16, 2009, 11:09 GMT

Yes definitely, Afghanistan is ready for the High level international cricket.
As we have seen the unexpected during the world cup qualifiers, they have some amazing talent, in the balling and batting fields.
As Mr Ahmadzai has mentioned, they have been busy preparing for this match. It would be very interesting what happens when they beat a prominent team like Zimbabwe.
What is lacking in Afghanistan is the proper support of these players, they don't have financial funds nor there is a world class ground in the country. ICC needs to help Afghanistan, if they don't the raw talent will be wasted.

Qaseem hilal khogiani
on August 16, 2009, 11:19 GMT

A think nawrowz mangal,raees ahmadzai,moh shehzad and azghar stanikzai batting well and a best spinner nabi taking many wickets in this trophy.
Thanks from all.

Dad Khan Ahmadzai
on August 16, 2009, 12:10 GMT

its good to see Afghanistan facing a strong Zimbabwe team, this would prove a productive experince for the team.

But Unfurtunitely no websites take this match with the attention.

i kindly request the Cricinfo website to updates the useres on the lates condition of the match which is still unclear to us, most of the Afghanistan people accessing this website to hear about their team.

Kindly put this issue under your consideration

Thanks,

Attak
on August 16, 2009, 13:37 GMT

why there is no live score of Afghanistan and Zimbabwe cricket game. I checked the whol site but no thing about that. I hope Afghanistan is going!!

Leslie Knott
on August 16, 2009, 16:07 GMT

I am so frustrated as I want to know the score. I just spoke with the head of the Afghan Cricket Board, and he hasn't been able to get an update either. It should be posted in the next hour or so...

Nasir Ahmad Khogiani
on August 16, 2009, 16:13 GMT

My pleasure to write for my team again we must tell the world that Afghanistan has low internet facility over the country while all those cricketers and students who knew about AFG & ZIM match are progressively check cricket sites on mobile I am the light example writing this comment from my cell but ICC dose not care for our patiency and they are doing some non-scenses from the same Intercontinental cup they broadcast kenya vs canada but neither Afg vs Zim Inshallah Afghanistan will do good because they are well managed team and telanted players Go ahead to achive your goals with sport and go from the fire to the air and wave on the world wispear in each ear the voice of afghan

Ammaduddin
on August 16, 2009, 16:37 GMT

Afghanistan is best any sport's

Nasimullah Danish
on August 16, 2009, 17:49 GMT

Hi All,
hope our team will bring a sccess to our homeland,
i have one request from the cricinfo that please i am reciving 100 calls every day from my friends and others cricket lovers for the updating score of our team match vs Zim. please if possible try to keep our hearts, and make a live score card for Afghan team matches.
Regards.
Nasim Danish

Simon Butler
on August 19, 2009, 2:47 GMT

It is good to see Afghanistan performing well. They have benn one of the cricketing worlds shining lights for the last 18 months now as their young inexperienced team has slowly blossomed into a formidable side. A 'Team' in every sense of the word.
In offering that compliment to the Afghan side it is hard to guade wether their good show against Zimbabwe is a testament of Afghanistans improvement, or proof of just how far ZC has declined in the years since they lost test status. I agree with the critics of Zimbabwe fielding an 'A' team in the IC cup. If zimbabwe get anything less than an IC cup win in the current tornament it will look very bad, and it will hurt their credibility.

Vikram Maingi
on August 26, 2009, 8:25 GMT

Afghanistan performance was very impressive. Had the 10 match ban not been imposed on Taibu, he would have been a part of the main line-up and in that case Afghans might have even beaten the Zimbabwe-A side.
If Zim-A team doesn't perform exceptionally well against the associate nations, ICC should ask frontline Zimbabwe side to participate in this tournament.